The seller will have to channel his/her enthusiasm somewhere else as this is nothing but a newly made lantern amateurishly fashioned after a hard-to-find German diecut. This is a soulless item with zero vintage value.
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Mark B. Ledenbach's vintage Halloween collectibles blog.
Vintage Halloween Dennison's 1913 Original Bogie Book RARE HTF
This is the only Bogie Book that has eluded my grasp. The few I have seen are always too damaged to be part of the collection. Print runs for the 1909 and 1912-17 editions were small so there aren't many of these around. I'll continue to hold out for a better copy, especially with the steep opening bid of $185.
Unused Vintage Halloween Party Tissue Paper Lamp Lampshade Lantern Really Cool
I'm surprised at this result. Sustainable guide value on this shade is $135, far lower than what this fetched. I could better understand this result if the item was mint, but it isn't. Ebay is an odd marketplace!
A Group of 6 Early Die-Cut Embossed Halloween Figures, Germany, Cat Owl Bat
I think this seller made a poor decision to group these diecuts and sell them as one lot. The "wear" on the cat and owls isn't wear at all, but the highlighting technique the Germans used for a short time. I feel it is nearly always best to sell vintage Halloween items that are in fine or better condition singly. If this seller had done this with these items they would have surely reaped a much better overall return.
Large Embossed Halloween Die-Cut Collapsible Lantern RARE
The seller is absolutely correct - this is an imposing lantern. I feel it is the largest form factor Halloween lantern the Germans ever made. These rarely surface, and when they do they are typically faded and tattered. I know of only a handful in this condition residing in collections. Sustainable guide value is $800-900.
10/13 Update: The SGV was blown away by the ending result of $1358.33. Wow! The one in the collection is just as nice, if not nicer. If anyone is willing to step up to the plate (sorry, really into the KC Royals' run...) I am willing to sell mine for $1,300 plus shipping.
Vintage 1930`s Halloween Paper Mache Witch`s Head Blow Noisemaker, Near Mint
This was made during the 1990s - or later - and has zero vintage value. Don't be fooled!
RARE VINTAGE JACK-O-LANTERN GERMANY PAPER MACHE PUMPKIN OLD FARM ESTATE
The seller has offered this with an opening bid of $499.95. How do these people dream up these prices? This size German JOL, measuring 6" high, typically fetches in the $200-250 range.
I've Added Items to the For Sale Section...
...so check them out. If you haven't ordered a copy of my completely revised third edition - what are you waiting for?
VINTAGE HALLOWEEN CANDY CONTAINER 1940S
This listing sheds some light on this unmarked item. The photos show that printed on the top flap is the exhortation to "Buy Bonds." This drives the seller's date attribution to the 1940s, something with which I do not disagree. The one in the collection does not have the reference to bonds, affirming my attribution to the 1950s. Interestingly, both variants have "Patent Pending" printed on the bottom.
VINTAGE HALLOWEEN BAT GERMANY 8'' LONG PRESSED CARDBOARD GLOSS FRONT SPOOKY
Given that this seller has a BIN price of $495 on this somewhat tattered, not uncommon diecut, I think we may have found a new definition of unbridled optimism.
I Was Away On Vacation...
I've received a number of emails from readers clamoring for a blog update, wondering why a week had gone by between new posts. Well, I was away on a vacation to southern California, antique shopping in such cities as Pomona, Huntington Beach and Long Beach. I also visited Disneyland for "Mickey's Halloween Party" for the second consecutive year. I enjoyed bumming around with friends Tammy, Barry and Jason for the 6 days and look forward to other such trips. Now that I am back, I will update the blog through Halloween much more diligently - so don't worry.
Vintage Style 1930s Flaming-Red Devil Halloween Lantern (Composition)
I recently took delivery of this remarkable lantern and wanted to pass along some thoughts. Although the emphasis of this blog is on the truly vintage, on occasion I add newly made pieces to the collection. I am very glad I have one of these. The artist, Timothy Ramzyk, sells a line of five Halloween lanterns both on Ebay and Etsy. This lantern is weighty and has been made with a high level of craftsmanship and care. Tim numbers each one, as they are made in limited quantities. As the years roll on, he intends to retire some designs to make room for others. I am sometimes asked what newly made items might be the collectibles of tomorrow. I am confident that all of these lanterns fit the bill. I spoke with Tim this afternoon to ask why he doesn't charge more for these works of art. For the moment, he feels these are fairly priced. However, buy any one of the lanterns and I dare you to disagree with me - they are worth every penny and then some. Buy any of all of these lanterns while they are available.
1920s-1930s J. CHEIN Tin Lithographed Halloween Tambourine - Witch On Goose
Tin has been a market laggard over the last several years, so this result is an anomaly. Sustainable guide value is $225 for one in this general condition.
VINTAGE HALLOWEEN 3D TABLE DECORATION PRINTED CARDBOARD BEISTLE "HERE LIES"
Beistle made a trio of these ingeniously designed 3-D decorations in the mid-1950s, when their creative juices, by and large, were ebbing. Of the three (the others can be seen on page 231), this one is the best and typically the most expensive. These almost always have notable condition issues, which this particular example seems to have avoided. Sustainable guide value is $225.
vintage Halloween Black Cats diecut fence conecting centerpiece & Cat Stand Up
These items were all produced by Whitney of Worcester, Massachusetts. Four singing black cat sections comprise a full set. These would link together to form a rectangular shaped table centerpiece. You can see this and other four-sided table centerpieces by Whitney on pages 274-275 of my newly published reference.
10/10 Update: The buyer did not make a good buy, paying $239.50 for an incomplete singing cat fence centerpiece.
